October 21, 2020

Purdue nutrition epidemiologist elected to National Academy of Medicine

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Regan Bailey’s career as a nutritional epidemiologist has always been about exploring choices people and families make regarding nutrition quality and quantity.

Recently Bailey was honored for her work on measuring nutritional status to optimize health by being elected as one of 100 new members of the National Academy of Medicine.

Bailey, a professor of nutrition science in Purdue’s Department of Nutrition Science, which is housed in the College of Health and Human Sciences, was selected to the academy for her continued work on improving the methods to measure nutritional status for optimal health outcomes including better understanding intake exposures and the use of dietary supplements. Her research has highlighted the pervasive use of dietary supplements and how these products contribute to dietary disparities by race, sex, age and poverty, and how they relate to health. She also directs the Indiana Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Purdue Diet Assessment Center.

The dietary issues facing Americans are something Bailey reviews on a daily basis, especially as she just completed an appointment to the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee.

“Our nation is plagued with obesity and other chronic health conditions, many of which are directly related to low diet quality,” Bailey says. “Nutrition scientists are being valued as part of interdisciplinary groups of scientists and medical professionals with different perspectives and expertise to address critical issues relevant to human health, especially as the field is moving closer to an era of personalized nutrition.”

Purdue President Mitch Daniels said, “Dr. Bailey’s continued research on nutrition and human health is life-changing, persistently pursuing new discoveries. Her nomination and membership into the National Academy of Medicine is a testament to her dedication and expertise to Purdue, the nation and world.”

Bailey has been at Purdue since 2013, starting as an adjunct faculty member before joining full time in 2015. Before Purdue, Bailey was a nutritional epidemiologist and director of career development and outreach at the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. She is a registered dietitian who completed a dietetic internship and Master of Science in food and nutrition from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Bailey received her doctorate in nutrition science from The Pennsylvania State University. She completed a master of public health from the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University.

Established as the Institute of Medicine in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Medicine addresses critical issues in health, science, medicine, and related policy and inspires positive actions across sectors. NAM works alongside the National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Engineering to provide independent, objective analysis and advice to the nation and conduct other activities to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine also encourage education and research, recognize outstanding contributions to knowledge, and increase public understanding of STEMM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine). With their election, NAM members make a commitment to volunteer their service in National Academies activities. Purdue has more than 20 faculty members who are current members of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

For more information and the full list of newly elected members, visit NAM’s website.

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical solutions to today’s toughest challenges. Ranked the No. 5 Most Innovative University in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Purdue delivers world-changing research and out-of-this-world discovery. Committed to hands-on and online, real-world learning, Purdue offers a transformative education to all. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue has frozen tuition and most fees at 2012-13 levels, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap at https://purdue.edu/.

Writer: Media contact: Matthew Oates, 765-586-7496 (cell), oatesw@purdue.edu, @mo_oates

Source: Regan Bailey, reganbailey@purdue.edu, @Regan_Bailey_ 

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Note to journalists: A high-res photo of Regan Bailey is available in a Google Drive. Bailey is available for phone or web-based photo interviews. Please contact Matthew Oates at oatesw@purdue.edu for information. Journalists visiting campus should follow visitor health guidelines.

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